Vermont Afghan Alliance

Immigration Staff Attorney

Addison CountyFull-time48 minutes ago

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Creator

Ellen Yount

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The Vermont Afghan Alliance (VAA) is a non-profit organization serving the Afghan community statewide through a variety of programs including housing, employment and legal services. Since its founding in 2022, VAA has helped hundreds of Afghans as they have navigated the complex process of starting a life in Vermont. The Legal Program, which began in 2024, has focused specifically on helping with all affirmative immigration legal services, largely applications under the jurisdiction of USCIS and NVC.

The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) is a legal services and technical assistance provider that exists to raise Vermont noncitizens’ awareness of and access to critical immigration legal help and support. We achieve our mission through statewide direct-service delivery, pro bono coordination, technical assistance, community education, and legislative advocacy. As we move from responsive to sustainable growth, VAAP is committed to building a structurally sound organization that outlasts its founders, reflects its values, and prepares early for leadership succession. Our systems must be nimble enough to respond to urgent legal needs—and durable enough to carry our mission forward long-term.

Both organizations are part of the Vermont Immigration Legal Services Roundtable, a collaborative effort of the nonprofit legal service providers in Vermont whose mission it is to increase coordination and capacity in this sector, with the hopes of providing efficient and expanded access to immigration legal services.

The staff attorney will be employed by VAA but will spend approximately half of their time working on the Community Lawyering Initiative housed at VAAP. The work at VAA will be focused on providing immigration legal support to members of the Afghan community in Vermont. VAAP work will be focused on delivering immigration and related legal services in places where immigrants already seek support, connection, and safety, including trusted community-based organizations, mutual aid networks, and the detention centers where ICE holds people in Vermont.

Both VAA and VAAP aim to have the time and duties of this role split evenly between the two organizations. But because immigration matters can require urgent responses, the precise distribution of time may vary from week to week, while remaining approximately evenly allocated overall.

The attorney will report directly to the Executive Director of the VAA.

Primary responsibilities:

VAA (50%):

Assistance to clients in understanding basic immigration protections under the law and the immigration process;

Consultations and interviews to determine immigration-related legal assistance needs and relevant information;

Complete representation on applications filed with USCIS and other government offices;

I-589 Affirmative Asylum applications, I-485 Adjustment of Status, Family Reunification and Consular Processing, Work Authorization, Travel Documents, etc;

Assistance explaining and completing relevant forms, as well as compiling relevant supporting documents for all immigration-related needs;

Providing guidance on fee waivers, biometrics appointments and assisting with the completion of forms;

Representing clients in USCIS interviews or other immigration related appointments;

Providing up-to-date information and analysis of immigration policy changes to the Executive Director and Board;

Tracking clients and keeping accurate data on client intake and services provides;

Preparing reports for donors, on a regular basis.

VAAP (50%)

Removal defense, including visiting detainees, coordinating access to counsel, and representing clients in habeas and bond proceedings;

Liaising with immigration service providers, and community organizations in Vermont assisting people detained by ICE;

Providing trauma-informed and accessible immigration legal services, including:

Conducting factual investigations and legal research,

Preparing briefs, and arguing appeals;

Providing humanitarian based immigration relief including application filing, appearing at USCIS, Immigration Court and the BIA.

Delivering trainings and community legal orientations; and

Engaging in regular travel to and coordination with community-based organization partner sites.

Qualifications:

At least two years of professional legal experience, preferably in immigration;

Attorney applicants must be licensed to practice law in Vermont or eligible for admission by waiver/UBE score transfer;

Experience and/or commitment to working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds in holistic and trauma-informed ways;

Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce professional legal documents and accessible outreach materials;

Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with a team but also independently with minimum supervision, as required by a busy hybrid work environment;

Ability and willingness to make decisions and solve problems creatively under tight deadlines;

Ability to balance a dynamic and complex workload;

Fluency/Proficiency in a language other than English (particularly Spanish, French, Dari or Pashto) is a plus, but not required;

Access to a vehicle for travel

Applicants with lived immigration experience are encouraged to apply!

This is an in-office position, although some remote work is possible with advance approval from the VAA and/or VAAP.

The VAA offers generous health benefits, as well as vacation and sick leave. Travel costs are reimbursable.

Application instructions:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and three references to Ellen Yount at ellen@vtafghanalliance.org